Quantum Cascade Lasers Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The Quantum Cascade Lasers Market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period (2022 - 2027). Quantum cascade lasers are semiconductor lasers that offer peak emission in the mid-IR range (4 μm to 10 μm). These devices are a great light source for mid-IR applications, such as molecular gas analysis and absorption spectroscopy.

Key Highlights

• Quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology works across the mid-wave and long-wave infrared to provide new inclinations that leverage existing thermal imaging camera technology and are finding new applications primarily across the precision sensing, spectroscopy, medical, military, and defense sectors. Their wide tuning range and fast response time allow quicker and more accurate compact trace element detectors and gas analyzers to replace slower and larger FTIR, mass spectroscopy, and photothermal micro-spectroscopy systems.
• The increased adoption of gas sensing and chemical detection applications in the military and defense and the healthcare sector is driving this market significantly. The increasing expenditures on the military and defense departments signify the importance of precision and accuracy in their activities to achieve excellent efficiencies in their processes.
• A significant number of researches are being conducted in the field of quantum cascade laser to detect the chemicals and particles in the air, supporting better management of pollution and greenhouse gases. In October 2021, the Europe Commission started a project. QCLs is a project that aims to build a compact LIDAR system for air multi-component chemical analysis, particle (PM10) detection, and range finding as part of the Qombs Project.
• QuaLIDAD intends to use one of two approaches: backscattered light from air particulate or reflected/scattered light detection by a retroreflector/obstacle detection. The prototype will operate in the 4-5 m window, where water absorption is low, and various essential greenhouse/toxic gases (CO2, CO, N2O, etc.) may be measured. The Pseudo Random Noise (PRN) technique is used to operate the LIDAR, which will involve quick modulation of a continuous-wave source with a specified digital pattern.
• In June 2021, researchers from Telecom Paris (a member of the Institute Polytechnique de Paris), mirSense, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and the University of California Los Angeles recently unveiled a new system based on a quantum cascade laser emitting mid-infrared light for more secure free-space optical communication. The researchers' method blends chaotic synchronization with QCL technology's mid-infrared wavelength. For decades, the property of chaos synchronization has been studied in the context of semiconductor lasers.
• The pandemic outbreak has created economic turmoil for small, medium, and large-scale industries worldwide. Adding to it, country-wise lockdown inflicted by the governments across the world (to minimize the spread of the virus) has further resulted in industries taking a hit and disrupting the supply chain and manufacturing operations across the globe, as a large part of manufacturing includes work on the factory floor.
• The enormous cost of the quantum cascade lasers is restraining the market growth. A significant upfront investment is required to adopt this technology.

Key Market Trends

Military & Defense is Expected to Have a Major Market Share

• Demand for aircraft platform product requirements has increased over the past years. This includes reduced size, weight, power consumption, and cost that extends to portable and battery-powered handheld products. Quantum Cascade Laser(QCL) technology operates throughout mid- and long-wave infrared to provide new inclinations that leverage existing thermal imaging camera technology.
• In addition to their appropriateness for aircraft platforms, QCL products are a natural fit to match operator demands for small, lightweight pointer and beacon capabilities. Field-testing of high-power, lightweight, battery-operated devices have displayed their efficacy across a range of air and ground applications.
• At the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., CIRCM used a laser to combine the seekers used by missiles that possess infrared homing devices in their tips. The Navy and Army see defenses as the prospective replacement technology for their helicopters, which are especially vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles.
• Further, the market is witnessing various partnerships to develop innovative solutions. For instance, in Aug 2022, Smiths Detection, a threat detection and security technology company, partnered with Block MEMS to create a proximate chemical agent detector (PCAD) for noncontact detection of solid and liquid threats on various surfaces. Block MEMS' quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) will be the core technology in the system.
• Also, in April 2021, The U.S. Army awarded Northop Grumman a contract for full-rate production of the laser-based Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system for USD 1 billion. The CIRCM system is built on open architecture to work with existing hardware. It uses a compact pointer/tracker and advanced Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology for greater reliability and scalability. Such developments boost the demand for Quantum Cascade Lasers in the military sector.
• According to North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it is estimated that the United States spent around 2,187 US dollars per capita on the military.

North America is Expected to Have a Major Market Share

• With the increased applications of quantum cascade lasers in detecting explosives, it is aggressively penetrating the military and defense market space. The massive expenditure on the Military and defense sector in the United States points toward the fact that the main focus is on precision and quality of functions performed, which can be achieved with the help of quantum cascade lasers.
• According to the United States Department of Defense 2021, The National Defense Strategy (NDS), which guides the Department's decision-making in reprioritizing resources and moving expenditures to prepare for a potential future high-end war, is supported in the FY 2021 budget. The President's budget request for FY 2021 is USD 705.4 billion, with USD 20.3 billion for Missile Defeat and Defense, including USD 1.1 billion for the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System and USD 1.1 billion for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Ballistic Missile Defense System USD 916 million. This is expected to propel market growth.
• One of the most important applications of these lasers is in gas sensing equipment and measurement. Systems based on tunable QCL can be used to measure multiple gas species. The narrowly targeted systems can even detect and measure the gas concentrations in the parts-per-trillion range. The market for these lasers is expected to grow significantly as manufacturers and scientists gain more experience.
• Gases and vapors possess characteristic chemical absorption "fingerprints" incomparable to their respective chemical structures. If a quantum-cascade laser is directed above a smokestack, the laser's wavelength can be harmonized to match a "fingerprint" wavelength in the air overhead the smokestack. Based on the fingerprint, the possibility of a specific pollutant's emissions can be determined. The QC laser is popularly used as a radiation source for chemical sensing and spectroscopy.
• Typical commercial applications of QC lasers include trace gas analysis and pollution monitoring. With increasing government regulations in the United States regarding pollution, quantum cascade lasers can act as a prominent source that can facilitate detection. QC lasers are finding applications in the Food and Beverage industry.
• The food and beverage industry in the United States has noticed significant growth in the past years. This industry has continuously focussed on the freshness and safety of its products. Emerson's Rosemount CT4215 Packaging Leak Detection System fits perfectly into existing production processes and can measure up to 200 packs per minute. It makes use of a quantum cascade laser to assess every item leaving a production line and facilitates the detection of trace gases from inadequate packaging, and instantly rejects faulty products.

Competitive Landscape

The Quantum Cascade Lasers Market is competitive and consists of several major players. None of the major players currently dominate the market in terms of market share. The manufacturers are getting involved in differentiated manufacturing processes to gain a competitive advantage.

• December 2021 - A Pune-based Defense Institute of Advanced Technology announced that the Government has set up two laboratories, Advanced Laser Laboratory and High Power CO2 Laser Facility, which will be one of the futuristic and strategic interdisciplinary set up for optics, laser, Quantum, and surface engineering. The Advanced Laser Laboratory comprises six research facilities, including Quantum Cascade Laser characterization.
• October 2021 - The Europe Commission started a Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) project, which aims to build a compact LIDAR system for air multi-component chemical analysis, particle (PM10) detection, and range finding as part of the Qombs Project. QuaLIDAD intends to use one of two approaches: backscattered light from air particulate or reflected/scattered light detection by a retroreflector/obstacle detection. The prototype will operate in the 4-5 m window, where water absorption is low, and various essential greenhouse/toxic gases (CO2, CO, N2O, etc.) may be measured. The Pseudo Random Noise (PRN) technique is used to operate the LIDAR, which will involve quick modulation of a continuous-wave source with a specified digital pattern.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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